New stats have revealed a staggering amount of dog owners are flouting the law - one year on from the introduction of compulsory microchipping.

From April 2016, all dogs over the age of 8 weeks must be microchipped and, under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity tag which displays the name and address of the owner in a public place.

But statistics from Dogs Trust show as many as 110,000 are flouting the new law - with hundreds of dog owners in the West Midlands also guilty.

Promisingly, 89 per cent of dogs in the region ARE now fitted with a microchip, meaning they can be reunited with their families if they are lost or stolen.

However, owners the West Midlands are being urged to microchip their dog if they haven’t already and keep the details up to date to ensure they can be reunited should they become lost.

(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Dogs Trust statistics show that 1,693 strays were reunited with their owners last year.

However, owners who don’t update their details risk the very real possibility of being permanently separated from theirbeloved family pet.

10 per cent of this figure remained unclaimed in local authority kennels in West Midlands last year - and they couldn’t be reunited with their owners simply because they didn’t have up-to-date microchip details.

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Local councils across the UK have issued 2,751 enforcement notices to owners since the legislation came into force – 1,464 for dogs that aren’t chipped and 1,287 for owners whose details are incorrect on the microchip database.

The average fine issued to dog owners was £340, with the maximum penalty recorded as £500.

It’s estimated that fines will total around £73,000 over the next five years.

A woman walking a dog

Alex Jackson, Head of Campaigns at Dogs Trust, says: “Whilst we will continue to work hard to make sure the remaining 11 per cent of owners in the West Midlands get their dog chipped, we are pleased that the law is working well across the UK with 95 per cent of the nation’s dogs now chipped.

"A good proportion of local councils are issuing notices to people who have not microchipped their dogs or updated their details, so we hope to see the total number of people complying with the law increase significantly over the next few years.”

“It’s essential that in addition to getting their dogs microchipped, the details on the database are up-to-date, to ensure they have the best possible chance of being reunited with their pet should they become lost.

"It’s also a legal requirement for dogs to wear a collar and tag displaying the owner’s name and address when out in public.

"Our #doggyreunion campaign aims to educate owners about the importance of these simple acts, which can make all the difference when it comes to being reunited with your dog, should they become lost.”

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Worryingly, the charity has noticed a growing number of breeders either not microchipping their puppies at aged 8 weeks, or not registering their details on the microchip database, which is compulsory by law.

Unsuspecting buyers are then getting their new puppies microchipped, not realising that they should already have a chip inserted and be registered to their breeder in order to ensure total traceability.

Alex continues: “It’s not just owners that need to be mindful of the law, breeders and potential buyers of puppies must ensure they comply with the legislation, which states that all puppies over the age of 8 weeks should be microchipped and registered to their breeder.

"We encourage anyone buying a puppy to ensure they are aware of the requirements.”

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